The labor or working class of a country plays a crucial role in its development and all other aspects of nation building. The class includes those engaged in manual labor occupations or industrial works, who depend on waged or salaried contracts for their livelihoods.
Working class occupations include blue-collar jobs (manufacturing, constructions, maintenance, driving, trucking, farming and all), and most pink color jobs including nursing, social work, teaching, beauty industry, child care etc. Also, the category can also include almost all of the working population of industrialized economies as well as those employed in the urban areas of non-industrialized economies or in the rural workforce.
Whatever their occupations are, they are the core pillar of the development of a country. So to draw the attention of the people towards the contribution of laborers or workers in the development of a country and to mark their sacrifices, every year International Labour Day is celebrated around the globe. It is also known as International Workers’ Day or May Day. It is celebrated with full fervor and enthusiasm around the globe.
International Labour Day History
The actual origin of the Labour Day is stated back to the time of heavy industrialization in the 19th Century, a time period in which the labor class was exploited to large extent of cruelty and was forced to work for up to 15-16 hours a day.
On May 1, 1886, at Haymarket Square in Chicago, USA, the laborers stood up for their rights and started a peaceful protest against their poor condition, suffering and exploitation. In their strike they were demanding an eight-hour workday.
On May 3, some Policemen assaulted, beat and injured the peaceful protestors, also killed one of them. In result, the very next day, the protest turned violent when an unknown person threw a dynamite bomb at the Haymarket Square, which resulted in death of several Police officers and four civilians and injured many labours, this whole incident is also called as Haymarket affair or Haymarket massacre.
After that, the proposals were made and in the year 1889, May 1 was decided to be observed as the International Workers’ Day or International Labour Day and since then, it has been observed on May 1st in more than 80 countries of the world.
Labour Day in India
Although the day is pertaining to the uprising made by the USA laborers, various other countries have their own story regarding the origin of Labour Day. However, the motive and idea behind observing the day are the same for all countries around the world, which is honoring and paying tribute to the working class.
In the USA and Canada, Labour Day is observed on the first Monday of the month of September. However, In India, people started observing the day from May 1, 1923 and this event was organized by the Labour Kisan Party of Hindustan in Madras, in present day Chennai, the capital of the Indian State of Tamil Nadu.
It was the first time when the Red Flag symbolizing Labour Day was used in India. The day is associated with labour moments for communist and socialists political parties, it is also known as Kamgar Diwas, Kamgar Din, Antarrashtriya Shramk Diwas and Uzhaipalar Naal in different states of the country.
International Labour Day 2022 Significance
This day plays a very crucial role in recognizing the hard work labours put at their workplaces. They always come up with new and innovative ideas for improving work efficiency and future developments. This day gives an opportunity to appreciate and recognize their work as well as take steps and measurements for the betterment of their conditions.
It is observed to recognize their skills, ideas and experiences which they put on the development of society, their demands need to be listened to, so that we as a society could play our respective roles in the development of our country as well as the rest of the world.
How to Celebrate International Labour Day 2022
This day is celebrated with full enthusiasm around the world and can be celebrated in many innovative ways. The people at large and the society encourage laborers by organizing events for them where they may be served to perform certain activities by themselves for fun, happiness, entertainment, learning, education etc. Labour can rest on this day and spend time of their own as in many countries across the world, 1st May is a public holiday.
International Labour Day 2022 Theme
International Labour Day/Workers’ Day or May Day has a separate theme for each year, but it seems like in 2021, the day will not have any theme this year too. We will update the information as soon as we get any new updates regarding this.
If we talk about the theme of International Labour Day 2020, as it was the time when COVID-19 hit the world for the first time, the day had the theme “Maintaining safety and security at the workplace” to raise awareness regarding the coronavirus pandemic.
